Chapter 7
Stephenie Meyer owns any Twilight characters that may appear in this story.I own the sandbox in which they play.
Thank you to all who have read, reviewed, put on alert and favorited.
"Dad, you are being completely unreasonable. I am perfectly fine where I am."
"Yes, I know I just met him and no I am not sleeping with him. My God, Charlie!"
Bella's hushed yelling was the first thing I heard when I awoke Sunday morning. I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes before picking up my phone from the nightstand. It was 8:18 in the morning. I was about to roll over and get comfortable when Bella entered the room again.
"Sorry if I woke you. I was trying to be quiet but he made me so mad." She looked furious, her face was painted with rage.
"You call him Charlie?"
She laughed. "Yeah, it's weird huh? I alternate between calling him Charlie and dad. Anyway he's concerned about me. I know he's just being a dad but would it kill him to trust my judgment?"
"He's right to worry Bella. Don't give him a hard time." I motioned for her to rejoin me in the bed. An invitation that she quickly accepted.
"I know, I know, I just get so angry sometimes. I can take care of myself. He lets me live alone and travel alone but somehow being in a hotel alone is not okay because, you know how parents think. It's just one big orgy in here."
Bella sat on the bed with her back against the headboard, her hair was a messy mane that framed her face. I chuckled as I took in her disheveled appearance. One of the things that attracted me to Bella was her unassuming manner, she wasn't the type of girl who was high maintenance. She placed very little emphasis on her looks. She didn't cake her face with makeup and she didn't care to be dressed to the nines every minute of every day. She definitely had a sense of style and she always looked good. She preferred jeans to dresses but maybe that had something to do with her wanting to be comfortable while she traveled.
It was crazy to think that it had been just a little over a week since I had met Bella. We had practically been together ever since. I knew the coming days would go by quickly and that meant we would be going our separate ways. Alice and I were flying back home to Seattle and I wasn't sure where Bella would be heading. Maybe she would visit her mom in Florida.
"Hey, what are you pondering so intently?" she asked while trying to stifle a yawn.
"Nothing, I just spaced out. Are you hungry?"
Knock
Knock
Knock
Bella and I looked at eachother and we both laughed. Alice had impeccable timing. I quickly got out of bed to let her in. When I opened the door I wasn't greeted by a bouncing, energetic Alice. Instead I was greeted by a near zombie. She was wearing her favorite sleep shirt, an old gym shirt of mine emblazoned with our last name on the back and black sleep pants. She brushed right past me and didn't even greet me. I shook my head and closed the door.
I walked into the room and found that Alice had made herself quite cozy on my bed.
"Alice, if you're still practically asleep why are you here?" I asked her.
"I'm hungry and I wanted to be where the action is," she mumbled while snuggling deeper into the pillows. Bella sat beside her smirking. She obviously found my sister amusing.
"Let's order some food, Alice is hungry enough to rouse from her hibernation and, Edward, you must be hungry too."
As we finished eating my phone rang and I stepped out into the living area to speak with my dad. After a few minutes of chatting he asked to speak to Alice, I walked back to the room to hand her the phone and found both her and Bella fast asleep on the bed. I promised my dad I would have Alice call them later.
Alice and Bella hadn't interacted much but I could tell they liked eachother. Hell, they were both sleeping in the same bed. I decided to let them sleep and so I made myself comfortable on the couch. I watched a movie and was about to start another one when I heard laughter coming from the bedroom.
"He didn't! Oh my gosh that is so funny! I would have never guessed he had it in him." Bella was laughing so hard she was out of breath. I walked closer to the door, which I had closed so as to not disturb them.
"Yeah, he totally did. Hey, Bella, I know we just met but I have a friend who is designing a clothing line and I think you would be perfect for the runway. Would you consider that? It's over the summer and I'm sure she'd be willing to fly you out."
"Wow, Alice, I'm flattered but I'm not what you usually see walking the runway. I'm no size 2. I'm busty and some might say a little chunky." Bella spoke in an amused tone before adding, "Alice you're model material. You've a great body."
"That is such bullshit. I have no body. I'm short and I am skinny, it's genes and I can't help it. I'd love to have some curves. Do you have any idea how hard it is to find clothes that will fit me? It's a nightmare! Nothing looks good if I can't fill it out. You are just what she's looking for. Would you at least consider trying on some of her clothes? I just know you'd look stunning." Alice was ready to beg, and she was already coming close to doing just that.
"Oh Alice, that is so sweet. I don't know how it all works but you should see me without these clothes, my stomach isn't flat, my thighs rub a tiny bit and I'm not toned at all. Here, look." I swallowed hard as I realized that Bella must be taking off her clothes.
"Bella, you're perfect. Your boobs are perky, your body has a lovely shape. You've let the media corrupt your perception of yourself. You're beautiful and I am not just saying that. Surely you know what a hottie you are. Please model for her. I just know Rosalie would love your look. You've very soulful eyes. They are a very pretty brown too. Oh the pictures will be amazing!" Alice was almost squealing at this point.
"Ha ha, oh Alice you sure know how to build up my confidence. You know what, I'll do it. The world can deal with it if they don't like it." Bella laughed and I heard a smacking sound. Did she spank herself? I shuddered and before I could even think about what I was doing my hand was on the door-handle. I entered the room just as Bella disappeared into the bathroom. I caught a quick glimpse of her, she was wearing panties but her back was missing any evidence of a bra. I couldn't get the image of her pert bottom out of my mind.
"Edward, what the ever loving fuck are you doing?" Alice screeched. "You totally almost intruded on a decidedly no boys allowed moment."
"Uh, I'm sorry. I just, wow. She's beautiful Alice. I'm almost sorry I saw what little I did because it will haunt me forever."
"Edward, quit being such a horn dog." Alice playfully punched my arm before getting out of the bed. "I'm off to shower and dress. I'll be back in a little while. And Edward, don't blow this with Bella. I really like her." With those parting words she was off and I was left mouth still gaping at the memory of Bella's exposed back and round derriere.
Bella was not fat, she was... voluptuous? Curvy? I didn't know how to describe her without sounding like an ass. She was everything I thought of as feminine. She was soft to the touch but still firm and hard. I couldn't wait to put my hands all over her body and explore.
"Alice, wait until you see—" Bella was coming out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel while working another through her hair. She looked up and jumped back, startled.
"Shit, oh my God I thought Alice would still be here." she started to laugh and her hands instinctively went to secure the towel she had wrapped around her body.
"I'm sorry, I'll give you some privacy." I practically ran from the room. As I closed the door behind me I could hear Bella laughing it up. I couldn't help but chuckle to myself, could I be any more awkward around her?
Moments later she called out to me that it was safe to come inside. I hesitated for a moment before rejoining her in the room. She was wearing a white button down shirt, a man's by the looks of it, and I wasn't sure if she was wearing anything else underneath.
"I have shorts on, and a bra. It looked like you were wondering," she stated matter of factly. She grinned at me before putting a brush to her hair. I didn't know what to say so I stood there like an idiot.
"Edward, are you okay?"
"Yeah," I finally managed to respond. "I'm sorry about earlier, I hope you don't get the wrong idea." I was stammering by this point.
"You're a man, you like to look. I'm flattered that you like to look at me. You make me feel sexy."
She was so nonchalant about the whole thing. She liked me looking at her, I made her feel sexy. I was too stunned to say much so I opted for a shower. I needed a cold one, badly.
When I finished with my shower I found Alice back in our room. She was wearing different pajamas. I guess she and Bella had decided they were going to lounge around all day long. I wish they had bothered to tell me.
"Edward you're over dressed. Put on some pj bottoms and a t-shirt. Bella and I were planning to lay around all day. Unless, you wanted to go out somewhere." Alice was munching on something as she spoke.
"I've no problem staying in. I'll change and then we can maybe watch a movie."
"Oooh, I just remembered I brought a few good ones with me. I'll be right back." Alice got up and headed to her room. Bella got out of the bed right after and walked towards me.
"I've been dying to do this since she got here this morning," she whispered almost seductively before kissing me. She stood on tip toes, her hands on the back of my head, fingers laced in my hair. I was caught off guard but my hands still managed to go to her waist. I wanted to rip that shirt off her body but settled for a feel of her bottom. As I began to knead her flesh she reached back and slapped my hand away.
"Greedy," she muttered, her lips still on mine. She broke the kiss, a big smile on her face. "We said we weren't going to rush into anything. Let's keep our wits about us." Her words were gentle, delivered with kindness. I was breathing heavily so I just nodded my acquiescence. I was still standing there, stupefied, when Alice came back with a selection of DVDs.
We watched The Lion King, and by the time it was over it was close to five in the afternoon. We agreed to have dinner in the hotel restaurant but before getting dressed to head down to the lobby Bella and Alice packed up Bella's belongings and moved her into Alice's room. I had mixed feelings about this but kept my mouth shut. Whatever Bella and I had was bordering on inappropriate. We had just met, and we were sharing beds and making out like we were a couple. I wanted to ask her to be my girlfriend but it felt too soon for that. The term also felt childish to me. I pushed those thoughts out of my mind. I would have to address them at a later time. In a few days we were going to part ways, once back in a different habitat we could fizzle. I needed to decide what to do with my life and Bella was obviously finishing her degree.
Ring
Ring
I reached over to the nightstand and answered the phone.
"Edward, what is taking you so long? Bella and I have been down here for over 10 minutes! We are getting a table, come find us." Alice hung up before I had a chance to respond. That was Alice, she was a force at times, very demanding and impatient.
Dinner was an orchestra of food, beverage and conversation. Alice filled me in on some of the happenings back home, thankfully she kept this to a minimum and quickly went on to tell us about the latest gossip at Seattle University. Bella recounted our initial meeting at JFK and Alice listened intently as she proceeded to tell her about how her passport had been stolen. All in all it was a good time. We even stayed for dessert, something Bella and I hadn't indulged in since Moyo.
It was almost 9 o'clock when we finally made our way upstairs. As we reached Alice's door, I felt a wave of unease. This is where Bella and I would part for the night. Alice was quick to catch onto my state of mind and quietly slipped into the room leaving Bella and I alone in the hallway.
"I guess this is goodnight," I said softly.
"I guess it is." She smiled back. "I don't know how I'll ever get to sleep. I'll miss you." She made it so simple, she stated exactly what she was feeling. There was nothing to decipher with her. I kissed her on her cheek before taking her key and opening the door for her.
"Sweet dreams," I said to her while placing her key back into her waiting hand.
"They will be all about you," she replied.
~IC~
"Edward, open up that suitcase and make sure it's the one filled with books. I have another one filled with toys but we won't need that one until tomorrow." Alice was all business this morning. We were in the hotel lobby getting ready to meet up with the folks from LoveLife. Today we would be visiting with some kids who were born to HIV positive parents and were HIV positive themselves. Whenever we came to South Africa we made sure to bring books with us in order to encourage reading. Alice always brought American and British classics but she also made sure to include books by South African authors such as Mark Mathabane, author of Kaffir Boy, Ubuntu as well as African Women: Three Generations. They were among Alice's favorites.
As a big advocate of reading Alice concentrated quite a chunk of our resources on outreach programs that not only provided reading material to local children but also provided education on the AIDS epidemic that they were living in.
We spent about two hours at the school. Bella sat in the middle of a huge circle of nine year olds as she read from Moby Dick. She was glowing with happiness and I was ecstatic at what a natural she was at this. While she and Alice read and handed out books I met with the older kids. A big part of these visits was simply presence. Showing these kids that even though they were HIV positive they were still precious members of society deserving of affection and friendship. Our gifts to them were just a bonus.
Once we had said our goodbyes to the students Bella received a phone call from the consulate. Her passport was ready. She made arrangements to pick it up the following day. A huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders and this meant we would all be able to fly home together on Friday.
Bella was on the phone with her dad when a second call came in.
"Dad, I have another call I'm going to take it so I'll call you later."
"I will dad, I promise. Bye."
She switched to the other call.
"Hello?"
"Jake! Oh, Jake I've missed you. Sorry I've only written, what's up?"
Bella grew quiet, her featured collapsed into a frown. Something was wrong.
Alice had to drag me away to give Bella some privacy. Minutes later Bella approached us. A sad look on her face.
"What's wrong?" I asked as I wrapped my arms around her.
"My house was broken into. They turned everything upside down, ransacked the place. Thankfully Jacob wasn't there when it happened but they hurt my dog. They hurt Nessie!" She started to cry.
"Jacob was staying at my apartment while I traveled because his apartment was being fumigated for termites. It worked out perfectly because Nessie wouldn't have to go to the kennel." Her tears had subsided a little as she explained but returned full force when she mentioned her dog.
"What's Nessie's condition?" Alice had the sense to ask
"Internal bleeding. She's stable for now. The vet thinks she was either kicked or hit with something."
"Oh my goodness, that's horrible. I hope that she will be okay," Alice soothed. "Did they take anything?"
"That's just it, Jacob said they didn't take anything of value. All they took was a framed picture of me that Jacob had taken—oh my God!" Bella gasped, obviously having realized something.
"What is it?" I asked, trying to mask my worry.
"James, fucking James. He always said he'd come back for that picture. He said he'd come back for me." Bella had a murderous look on her face, the name James dripped like venom on her teeth.
Who was James? The only boyfriend she had mentioned to me was that Michael Newtwon. I didn't have much time to ponder, as Bella was back on her phone. She was calling the Consulate, she would need that passport today.
a/n
Thank you for reading! I really hope you'll leave me a review, I don't hear from many readers. I want to know what you like/don't like/ would like to see.
You may have noticed that I haven't made much reference to the characters' physical appearance. This has been intentional. This chapter described a Bella that is different from the skinny, firm and flat stomached Bella of most stories. She is not perfect, fresh out of a photoshop screen. I guess this is my way to draw attention to the fact that girls and women are under a lot of pressure to achieve some standard of physical perfection that isn't realistic. I believe that beauty comes in many sizes and I think it's time that we started seeing female main characters that more closely resemble the women who read about them. I've posted pictures of what I was picturing when I described Bella's body on my tumblr. (abbycreations)
I have also abstained from going wax poetic about Bella's "deep, chocolate brown eyes" or Edward's "apple green orbs", or about how physically perfect each is to the other. Their features are there but these characters aren't all about that. Sure, Edward likes what he sees and gave us some insight into that in this chapter but the glimpses are small.
Anyway, sorry to ramble. Hope to see you again next time!
Abby